Stilt



Jan. 14, 1941. l F.1 CURT1S 2,228,592

l STILT Filed Dec. 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 14, 1.941. F. J. CURTIS 2,228,592

sTILT Filed Dec. 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to an improved stilt.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a stilt which may be quickly elongated or shortened by the user thereof while walking thereon.

Another object ofV the invention is to provide a stilt employing a stirrup which is capable of ready adjustment and which will be released automatically upon pressure upon the latch employed.

A further object of the invention is toprovide a device of this character employing an upper section which is removably connected with the main stilt body employed so that the stilt may be taken down for convenient shipment.

As a further object, the invention seeks to provide a stilt wherein the stirrup will be covered with a readily removable rubber pad so that the device may be used with the utmost comfort.

And as a still further object, the invention seeks to provide a stilt employing compact and highly efficient elongating structure which may be operated with the greatest facility and which will not chafe the legs of the user or otherwise annoy him.

Further objects of the invention, not mentioned hereinbeiore, will Vappear as the description proceeds.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved stilt,

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional View, partly in elevation, showing the' step and stirrup structure, with stirrup release mechanism, 35 employed,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 3-3 of Figure'Z', looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail vertical sec- 40- tional view showing` the elongating structure,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional'view on theY line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary verticalV 'sectional View, partly in elevation, showing a portion ofthe elongating structure, and

Figure 7 is a Vertical sectional view of a slightly modified construction wherein the Shanks employed are pressed from sheet metal.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the various views, the numeral I indicates generally a stilt body which is of tubular formation. The stilt body is formed of light weight material and is formed, near its lower end with an integral step 2. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the step is formed with atop wall 3 and side reinforcing webs 4 and 5 which dene beneath said bottom wall, a housing 6, the purpose of which will be described in more detailhereinafter. A brace l, of tubular formation, is formed integrally on the body I and extends obliquely upwardly. The brace 'I is at its upper end turned upwardly to define a straight tubular side portion 8 which lies in aparallel plane with the main stilt body, but is, of course, spaced therefrom. The tubular side portion 8 has integrally con-v nected thereto the topvwall 3 and the webs 4 and 5 so that the stilt body I, the step 2, and the brace 1 will all be in one piece. In actual manufacture, the entire structure above described will preferably be cast.

The stilt body I, at the junction thereof with the inner end of the step 2`is formed with a thickened reinforcing portion 9 on which are formed lugs defining a yoke I0.

Swingingly connected with vthe yoke lll is a stirrup strap I I which is preferably formed of `resilient metal. The strap is rolled at its inner end to provide a bearing I2 which journals a trunnion I3 in the yoke I0. It will thus be seen that the stirrup strap II is mounted for slight swinging movement in the yoke l0.

The free end of the strap I I is twisted and bent to define a straight U-shaped portion i4 which is formed with rack teeth I 5.V The U-shaped portion I4 is adapted to extend'into the open upper end of the side portion 8, which side portion has a guide I6 mounted therein. The guide I5 is formed with an opening II therein which is disposed to confront the interior of the housing G.

In order to: provide a cushion for the stirrup strap II so that it will fit comfortably over the toe portion of a shoe, I employ a sleeve I8 of elastic material. Cemented to the sleeve I8 is a preferably sponge rubber cushion I9.

As best seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, the side portion 8 has lstruck'in portions 2li at its lower end. These portions 20 define stops 2l limiting the downward movement of a spring 22 which is mounted in the tube. The spring 22 has a follower 23 mounted thereabove, yand said follower normally engages the lower end of the U- shaped portion I4. When the portion I4 is in its lowermost position, the spring will be compressed, as shown in Figure 2.

Mounted in the housing B is a latch 24 whichy is formed with a pawl 25 removably engageable with the rack teeth I5. The latch 24A is pivotally mounted n the housing by means of a pin 26 which extends through said latch at substantially' finger-engaging portion 21. A spring 28, which is fastened to the under side of the wall 3, engages behind a shoulder 29 on the latch and retains the pawl normally in engagement with one of the rack teeth I5. When the finger-engaging portion 21 is shifted upwardly, the latch 24 is rocked for freeing the pawl 25 from the rack teeth I5, when the spring 22 will flex upwardly and urge the portion I4 upwardly for freeing the shoe from the step 2.

It is now desired to describe the elongating structure of my improved stilt, which structure may be seen best in Figures 1 and 4 through 7 of the drawings.

Slidably mounted in the stilt body and extending throughout the greater portion of its length is an elongating shank 3D which is formed at its lower end with an enlarged portion 3| carrying a preferably rubber tip or shoe 32 thereon. The shank 3i) may be formed of light weight solid material, or, as shown in Figure '1, may be made of tubular material pressed into the desirsd shape. The shank 39 is substantially circular in shape but has flattened portions 33 and 34 which define a rack 35. The teeth 36 of the rack 35 extend throughout the greater portion of the length of the shank. The stilt body I, at substantially its mid point, is provided with spaced bosses 31 and 38 which are located eccentrically with respect to the axis of the shank 3D and said stilt body. The stilt body is formed with a slot 39 which is defined by inwardly turned lips 4i) and 4I of the bod;7 between the bosses 31 and 3B. The slot 39 receives therethrough the teeth 3S of the rack 35. That is to say, the rack 35 is contained within the stilt body I at all points, except between the bosses 31 and 38, when the flattened portions 33 and 34 of the stilt body define the slot 39 which receives the rack 35 therethrough.

In order to shift the shank 30 longitudinally within the stilt body, I employ a preferably circular actuating nut shown generally at 42. The actuating nut comprises sections 43 and 44 which are semi-cylindrical in contour. The sections are held in proper position by means, of mating pins and sockets 45 and 46. Each of the sections has a threaded portion which, when the sections are placed together in operative position, define a continuous thread 41. As best seen in Figure 5 at 48, there is a slight clearance between the back portion of the stilt body, between the bosses 31 and 38, and the thread 41. This is due tothe fact that the stilt body at this point and the shank are made slightly elliptical in order to permit the rack teeth 36 to be engaged by the thread 41.

Formed in the boss 31 is a vertical entrance key slot 49. There is also formed in the section 43 of the actuating nut 42 a vertical key slot 53. The purpose of the key slots will be described hereinafter.

For shifting the actuating nut 42, I provide an actuating sleeve 5I which slidably fits about the bosses 31 and 38 and the actuating nut sections 43 and 44. The sleeve 5I is formed with a longitudinally disposed key 52 which is adapted to pass through the entrance key slot 49 and rest in the key slot 59. It will be seen that rotation of the sleeve 5I will be communicated to the nut 42 so that said nut will cause shifting of the shank 30 within the stilt body I. In order toretain the sleeve 5I in proper operative position, I

provide a set screw 53 which engages slidably in a groove 54 in the boss 38.

An outer grip 55, of rubber or other suitable material, is fitted about the sleeve 5I.

As it is believed that the manner of operating the elongating structure of my invention will be clearly apparent from the foregoing description, no further description of operation is thought necessary.

The structure shown in Figure '7 of the drawings is identical with that shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, with the exception of the fact that the stilt body and bosses are pressed from one piece of sheet metal, as are the shank and rack.

Attention is directed to the fact that, inasmuch as the elongating operating mechanism is Vecoentrically mounted with respect to the axis of the stilt body and will be disposed away from the leg of the user, no annoyance to the users legs will be experienced.

Removably connected with th eupper end of the stilt body I, as best seen in Figure 1 of the drawings, is an upper section 56 which is adapted for effecting even greater length to the stilt than that defined by the stilt body and the elongated shank. The section 56 is connected with the stilt body by means of a spring latch 51 which may be of any desired conventional construction.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

t 1. In a stilt, a stilt body including a step having a wall and webs defining a housing, a brace. carried by the body and having a side portion formed integrally with the housing, a stirrup strap carried by the step and stilt body, said strap having a straight U-shaped portion formed with teeth and being engageable in the side portion, releasable means normally retaining the strap in an operative position about a shoe, and means urging the strap to inoperative position upon release of said releasable means.

2. In a stilt, a stilt body, a step carried thereby, a brace for said step and having a side portion, a stirrup strap having a straight U-shaped portion formed with rack teeth, said straight portion being engageable in the side portion, a spring in the side portion and engageable with the straight U-shaped portion of the strap, and a latch carried by the step and having a pawl engageable with the rack teeth for retaining the strap in an operative position about a shoe, said latch being releasable for permitting the spring to urge the stirrup strap to inoperative position.

3. In a stilt, a stilt body, a shank carried thereby, and means carried by the body and adapted for shifting the shank and elongating the stilt, said means being located eccentrically to the axis of the stilt body.

4. In a stilt, a stilt body, a shank slidably mounted in the stilt body and having a rack formed with teeth, and means carried on the stilt body and engageable with the rack teeth, said means being rotatable for shifting the shank longitudinally of the stilt body whereby the stilt will be elongated.

5. In a stilt, a stilt body having spaced bosses, said stilt body being formed with a slot between the bosses, a shank slidably mounted in the stilt body and having a rack formed with teeth projecting through the slot in the stilt body, said rack and shank being normally contained within the stilt body throughout the major portion of the length of said shank, and an actuating nut rotatably mounted on the stilt body between the bosses and having a thread engageable with the teeth of the rack, said nut being adapted to be actuated for shifting the shank longitudinally of the stilt body whereby the stilt will be elongated.

6. In a stilt, a stilt body having a pair of bosses located substantially midway the length of said body, said bosses being disposed in parallel spaced relation at right angles to the axis of the body, said stilt body being formed with a slot between the bosses and the margins defining the slot being turned inwardly to dene guides, the stilt body between the bosses being slightly elliptical, a shank slidably mounted in the stilt body and having a rack formed with teeth, said teeth projecting through the slot and said guides preventing rotation of the shank within the stilt body, and a nut rotatable on the stilt body between the bosses and having a thread engageable with the teeth of the rack, said nut being manually rotatable for shifting the shank longitudinally whereby the stilt will be elongated.

7. In a stilt, a stilt body having a pair of spaced bosses, the stilt body between the bosses being slightly elliptical and being formed with a slot, -a shank carried by the stilt body and having a rack formed with teeth, said teeth projecting through the slot, an actuating nut rotatably mounted on the stilt body between the bosses and having a thread engageable with the teeth of the rack, and a sleeve rotatable about the bosses and the nut and being adapted to rotate with said nut upon manual engagement for shifting the shank and elongating the stilt.

8. In a stilt, a stilt body having bosses spaced from each other, the stilt body between the bosses being slightly elliptical in shape and being formed with a slot, the margins defining the slot being turned inwardly to dei-lne guides, a shank slidably mounted in the stilt body and having a rack formed with teeth, said teeth extending through the slot past the guide and said guide preventing rotation of the shank within the stilt body, an actuating nut rotatably mounted on the stilt body between the bosses and having a thread engageable with the rack teeth, said nut being split and having a key slot, a sleeve rotatably mounted about the bosses and the nut and having a key engageable in the key slot, one of said bosses having an entrance key slot, said sleeve and said nut being adapted to rotate as a unit upon manual rotation upon shifting of the shank in the stilt body whereby the stilt will be elongated, and means preventing accidental displacement of the sleeve on the bosses.

9. In a stilt, a stilt body, spaced bosses mounted on the stilt body and being rotatable eccentrically thereon, said bosses being on the same axis, the stilt body between the bosses being slightly elliptical and being formed with a slot, a shank slidably mounted in the stilt body and having a rack formed with teeth, said teeth extending through the slot, an actuating nut rotatably mounted on the stilt body between the bosses, said nut being formed in sections and having a thread engaging the teeth of the rack, and means rotatable about the bosses and rotatable with the actuating nut for shifting the shank longitudinally ofy the stilt body whereby the stilt body will be elongated.

10. In a stilt, a stilt body having a pair of spaced bosses, the stilt body between the bosses being slightly elliptical and being formed with a slot, said bosses being eccentrically disposed on the stilt body, a shank mounted in the stilt body and having a rack formed with teeth, said teeth extending through the slot, a sleeve fitting about the bosses, means keying the sleeve to the actuating nut whereby, upon manual rotation of the actuating nut with consequent shifting of the shank an elongating of the stilt will take place, and a grip fitting about the sleeve to rotate therewith.

. FRANKLIN J. CURTIS. 

